Mel Gibson puts on a brave face at Cannes premiere as The Beaver slated

Mel Gibson stepped out at the premiere of his new film The Beaver last night at Cannes Film Festival as the movie attracted mixed reviews.

Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson attend the premiere of The Beaver (Xposure)

The troubled actor, 55, who ducked out of a press conference earlier in the day did manage to put in an appearance at the red carpet bash.

Dressed in a tuxedo and sunglasses, he joined old pal and The Beaver’s director Jodie Foster at the premiere.

Gibson, who was accused by ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva of domestic violence, refused to talk to the press.

Instead, long-term friend Foster defended her decision to cast him in the drama about a depressed man who starts talking to a beaver hand puppet.

Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson joke around at The Beaver premiere in Cannes (Xposure)

She said: ‘He really understood the character in a way that was extraordinary.

‘I think that he was willing to go to such a deep place and willing to expose himself in some ways, to really talk about something he knows a lot about which is struggle, wanting to change, wanting to transform yourself, not wanting to be who you are and I’m so grateful for that performance.’

Gibson, who has also been accused of racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism, snubbed a press junket yesterday and was spotted sunbathing and smoking on the balcony of his hotel instead.

The film had a disastrous opening in the US and has also been rubbished by critics.

Mel Gibson relaxes on the balcony of his hotel during the Cannes Film Festival (Xposure)

The Guardian said: ‘The Beaver might not have been bad if it was acted with some subtlety and realism and something approaching a sense of humour. Well, Gibson will have to get his teeth into something else.’

While The Independent wrote: ‘For all his recent travails, Gibson remains a formidable film-maker and a strong screen presence. He is simply not right for his role here, which is one key reason why The Beaver will struggle to burrow into audiences’ affections.’

This Is London added: ‘The main problem with the film, competently but rather blandly directed by Foster, is that you can’t believe this fairy tale for a moment.’

But Rolling Stone praised Mel’s performance saying: ‘If you can get past your feelings for the troubled Gibson, you get to watch a high-wire performance of the highest calibre.’